Article: Aviation pioneers once flocked to L.A.'s clear skies. (includes related article on post-World War II aviation industry)(Special Report: What's Left of L.A. Aerospace?)

In January 1910, Los Angeles played host to the nation's first air show, a 10-day affair held on a dusty expanse in Dominguez Hills. Aviators, engineers and flight enthusiasts from all over the world attended the exhibition, where they watched pilots compete in endurance, speed and altitude contests.

But the real attraction proved to be Los Angeles itself.

The air was clear and dry, the sea breezes light and manageable. Engineers discovered that manufacturing could be done outdoors. And pilots learned they could rely on some 350 clear days a year.

It wasn't long before Los Angeles became the center for this growing corps of aircraft pioneers.

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